Flow pan for coating machines



E. M. CHASE FLOW PAN FOR COATING MACHINES June 22 1926.

Filed March 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22 1926.

E. M. CHASE FLOW PAN FOR COATING MACHINES Filed March 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 22, 1926.

UNlTED STATES essayes earner orrics.

EARLE M. CHASE, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNT-TERSAL CANDY AND CHOCOLATE MACHINERY COMANY, 1N C., OF SPRNGFELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F LV'ASSACHSETTS.

FLOW' PAN FOR COATING- MACHNES.

Application filed March 12, 19211.

This invention relates to a machine for applyinga coating of chocolate to candy or for other similar purposes.

lt is the principal ohject of my invention to provide a new and improved construction of flow pan for such a machine, hy which the coating materia-l may he effectively delivered to the article to he coated.

lith this general object in view. an im portant feature of my invention consists in the provision of improved devices for controlling the flow of chocolate as it is delivered from the Vliow pan. A further feature relates to the. provision of eflicient means for adjusting the controlling devices and preferably for separately adjusting different parts thereof.

My invention further relates to arrangement-s and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional end elevation of my improved llow pan;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View thereof, lool@ ing in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional elevation, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. and

Fig. 4l is a perspectii-*e view of one of the plates by which the flow of chocolate is adjusted.

Referring to the drawings, I have indicated a flow pan F having side walls 10, end walls 11 and a. hottom 12 provided with a plurality of longitudinally extended delivery slots or openings The side walls l0 are preferably inclined, as indicated in Fig.. 1, and one or both of the end walls 1l may be provided with a depressed portion 111 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is adapted to form a spillway from which the surplus chocolate may escape at the end of the flow pan.

rThe pan F is also provided. with brackets 15 secured to the ends thereof and threaded to receive adjusting screws 16 (Fig. The screws 16 are provided with shoulders 17 which rest upon hearing members 18 fixed in the casing 2O of the coating machine. ln Figs. 1 and 3 the flow pan is indicated as being positioned at its eXtreme upward limit of movement7 and the lower limit of serial ivo. 698,773.

movement is indicated hy broken lines in f said figures.

A flow adjusting plate 21 is provided for each plate opening 13 and each of thesel plates has cam slots 22 (Fig. 4l) formed therein also has an upturned ear 223 angularly positioned at one end thereof. The plates 21 are secured to the under side of the. flow pan F hy screws 24- threaded into the bottom 12 of the flow pan and extending through bushings slidahly litting the angular slots 22.

.an at the ends ofthe plates 21 are provided with openings 26 (Fig. 4) through which extend studs 2? 'which are threaded into one end wall 1l. of the fiow ment of the corresponding plate 21 in a direct/ion parallel to the stud andy also to the slots 22. Such ohlique movement will also cause the edge of the plate 21 to be advanced to close the associated delivery opening 13 in. the flow pan and thus reduce and control the flow of chocolate therefrom. It will also he noted that each plate 21 may he separately adjusted, so that the flow through. any selected opening 13 may he controlled as desired.

rlhe casing 2O of the coating machine is provided with. a series of vertical slots 31 through which the handle portions of the adjusting screws extend. so that t-he chocolate delivery may loe adjusted from the outside of the casing 20. A cover plate 32 is slidahly secured outside of the casing 2O and is provided with one or more openings 38 through which the handle portions 30 extend. The plate 82 is supported loy the parts 30 and is of such width that it will cover the vertical slots 31 in any position of the flow pan.

During the operation of the machine, it

will he understood that the candy or other articles to he coated are carried beneath the iiow pan F .upon a conveyorl C (F 1g. 1) which may he supported 1n any convenient Vmanner asiloy rolle 36. Tlievertical adjusting` serene 1G provide ineane by which. the

lloiv pan )nary be positioned al: any desired Vheight above the conveyor C, depending upon the Sizer endsliape ol the articles moho Coated;L i f Y Havingtlins deep-rihed nij)7 invention and the advantages thereof i'l4 Will he evident that changes and modifica-lions cen he inode in niv invention by those skilled inr the arl;` nf'itlnn the spirit and scope thereofY as eet forth in 'the claims and l do not Wish to be otherwise limited lo the details herein dieclosed lint what l cle-iin is:-

l. ln a coating machine7 e llow plan having; a longindinall;y extended deliver7 opening, o plaie movable lo vary llie Width of said pening, said plate lia-ving guide Slots therein disposed :it an oblique angle to lille .lenelili of said deliver Y o'ieniiwV` studs for said gnideelols lined in seid pan, and moans to niove said plate relatively co Seid pan and ohliqnely across said delivery opening.`

Lee

ing` e plurality ol adjacent parallel deliveri7 Slots in the holoin thereof; and exlendinfr leiiphwiee of said pan, a Separate plate for @zich slot movable to very llie effective Width i'liereo'l', and ineens se ixeijiaralely adjust @sich plate 1diagonfilly across said pon :ind lio thereby varj,7 lhe el'l'ective'ividlli oleaiid deliver;T opening, Seid adjneing means; being1 positioned at one end ol said pan and being connected to lie ende oiE said platee'.

1l. ln a coating'machine, a` lovv pan heving; a plnralilzjvi of parallel del iveri7 Slol'e in the holl'oin liereoil, a separate plaie for each movable lo vary the effective .vidi'h liereoil means lo guide each plate fior ding;- onel inovernenlV relative lo said Slots,

yand separate adjusting screws poiil'ioned ol eiid casing, and a cover plate supported on said screws and covering; said velieal slots in all vertical poeitionssrol said pan.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto al fixed my signature.

mene M. CHASE. 

